My 41 Word Rationale for Teaching Stories

#iwroteuplikethis

When teacher Andrea Marshbank recently asked the #engchat hivemind on Twitter what she could say to students who wanted to know why they had to study stories in school, I found myself stopped in my tracks furiously tapping away a reply. Here’s what I said:

Because ALL knowing is narrative. Even that obscure chemical formula or equation. To understand something deeply is to be able to describe it as story: nouns verbing other nouns in all sorts of adjectival ways. To know is to story. #edchat#engchat

I will also add here that every teacher–every one–must always have an answer to the question, “Teacher, why do I have to do this?” And, your response can not reference tests, college, or teacher authority. It must be bigger than all that.